Friday, May 07, 2021, 09:06 GMT+7
Nursing student Erika Lohr vaccinates a patient as California opens up vaccine eligibility to any residents 16 years and older during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Chula Vista, California, U.S., April 15, 2021. Photo: Reuters
World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations on a waiver of intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines could take months - provided they can overcome significant opposition from some member countries, trade experts say.
The talks also are likely to focus on a waiver that is significantly narrower in scope and shorter in duration than the one initially proposed by India and South Africa last October.
In a significant shift of stance, Gates Foundation has followed the line taken by the Biden administration to back the temporary waiver of intellectual property on COVID-19 vaccines. No barriers should stand in the way of equitable access to vaccines, including intellectual property, which is why we are supportive of a narrow waiver during the pandemic. Those negotiations will occur via the WTO process, led by country negotiators, said Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman. Suzman said that Gates Foundation will continue to advocate for countries with supply to share doses. And we will continue to advocate for countries with supply to share doses with those without as soon as possible, and for COVAX to be fully funded, he said.
Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Im
The world s largest economy, the US, on Wednesday said it would support a temporary and targeted waiver of intellectual property protections that apply to Covid-19 vaccines.
This is after it and several other countries blocked negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for months following a proposal made by India and South Africa in October 2020.
In a statement on Wednesday, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced President Joe Biden s support for the waiving of provisions of the WTO s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS). There’s more to this story
Modi speaks with Australian PM; initiatives for equitable access to vaccines, medicines discussed
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Last Updated: May 07, 2021, 04:24 PM IST
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Synopsis
During his telephonic conversation with Morrison, the prime minister conveyed his appreciation for the prompt and generous support extended by the government and the people of Australia for India s fight against the second wave of COVID-19, according to a Prime Minister s Office (PMO) statement.
AP
The two leaders agreed on the need to ensure an affordable and equitable access to vaccines and medicines for containing COVID-19 globally, it said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Friday as the two leaders agreed on the importance of ensuring equitable access to vaccines and medicines, and discussed possible initiatives for it.